Food Pantry in Gulf Breeze, Florida

A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Gulf Breeze, Florida distribute groceries to individuals or families who are in some form of an emergency situation.

There are also meals, free bags of food, personal toiletries and household goods for low to moderate income families from food pantries near you.

Distribution centers can include churches, non-profit organizations, community action agencies, and many other local charities as well as non-profits.

Salvation Army Food Pantry

The Salvation Army is dedicated to eliminating food insecurity.

The Salvation Army operates free local food banks around Gulf Breeze, Florida from almost all of their local social service centers. The charity organization is involved in feeding millions of families each year, with a large percentage of those assisted being children as well as the elderly.

We have located 1 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Gulf Breeze, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.

The Salvation Army - BILLINGS, MT: Corps Community Center

Services provided :

  • Bible Study - Correspondence
  • Camping Activities
  • Casework Services
  • Character Building Programs
  • Christian Education
  • Disaster Services
  • Emergency Financial Assistance
  • Emergency Shelter
  • Food & Nutrition Programs
  • Men's Ministries
  • Music & Arts Programs
  • Residential Camping Activities
  • Seasonal Services
  • Visitation Services
  • Women's Ministries
  • Worship Services - Children's / Teen
  • Worship Services - Church
  • Worship Services - Sunday School
  • Worship Services - Young Adult
  • Worship Services - Youth Ministries

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (406) 245-4659 to book your appointment.

Address :

2100 N 6th Ave, billings,
Pensacola, FL 32503.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

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Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia

Church Food Pantry

A number of churches around Gulf Breeze, Florida have food pantries for those in their neighborhoods who are in need of food items.

Churches operate with food donations gathered and deliver to the food pantry nearest you by individuals using food drives.

Some churches also deliver food items to elderly who are unable to drive to a nearest community food pantry. Please contact your local church directly.

We have located 7 Church Food Pantry locations in Gulf Breeze, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.

Holy Cross Metropolitan Community Church

Food Pantry distributes thousands of pounds of grocery products each year directly to people facing hard times. Recipients, who receive food free of charge, include unemployed and underemployed workers, the homeless, senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, families in crisis situations and children.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 469-9090 to book your appointment.

Address :

3130 W Fairfield Dr,
Pensacola, FL 32505.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Tues: Closed
  • Wed: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Thurs: Closed
  • Fri: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Cities:

  • Pensacola

St. John Divine Missionary Baptist Church

Food Pantry provides free food to feed families and individuals in need. We supply groceries for residents that do not have enough food because they lack the resources to purchase it. We serve everyone from low income families, single parents, senior citizens, unemployed individuals, disabled veterans, working poor and anyone else that comes to the pantry that needs help. We serve everyone regardless of their race, color, or religion. The amount of food given depends on household size.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 432-0568 to book your appointment.

Address :

620 E Jordan St,
Pensacola, FL 32503.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Cities:

  • Pensacola

Scenic Hills Church Of Christ

Food Pantry provides help to those in our community who need daily provisions. Our food pantry consists of dry goods only and is available for walk-ins every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or by appointment on other days. Our food bank is primarily stocked by items purchased from the Bay Area Food Bank and due to our affiliation with this organization, those obtaining goods from our food pantry will be required to present a photo ID and complete some paperwork on their initial visit.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 477-2114 to book your appointment.

Address :

1295 E Nine Mile Rd,
Pensacola, FL 32514.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia

Holy Cross Episcopal Church

The Food Pantry at Holy Cross provides free food to feed families and individuals in need to alleviate hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 477-8596 to book your appointment.

Address :

7979 N 9th Ave,
Pensacola, FL 32514.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM
  • Tues: 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM
  • Wed: 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM
  • Thurs: 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM
  • Fri: 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia
  • Santa Rosa

East Hill Church of God in Christ Inc. - Free Food

We also do a free food and clothes give away.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 433-7507 to book your appointment.

Address :

400 E Jordan St,
Pensacola, FL 32503.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

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Help Residents of Cities:

  • Pensacola

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia

MANNA - Jay Pantry at First Baptist Church

Service is offered every first and second Tuesday of the month from 9:30-11:30 am. For each person seeking assistance, the following is required: For each adult in the household (18+ years old): a picture i.d. and social security card; For each child (17 years or younger): a social security card, birth certificate or recent shot record.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call to book your appointment.

Address :

214 S Alabama St,
Jay, FL 32565.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

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Help Residents of Cities:

  • Jay

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Santa Rosa

MANNA - Milton Pantry at Community of Christ Church

Service is offered every Friday beginning at 12 noon. For each person seeking assistance, the following is required: For each adult in the household (18+ years old): a picture i.d. and social security card; For each child (17 years or younger): a social security card, birth certificate or recent shot record.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call to book your appointment.

Address :

110 Raymond Hobbs Rd,
Milton, FL 32570.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

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Help Residents of Cities:

  • Milton

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Santa Rosa

Catholic Charities Food Pantry

Resources provided by the Catholic Charity organization focus on addressing food, holiday, and immigration needs.

Families of all religions, backgrounds, and cultures can contact Catholic Charity centers for help.

Catholic Charities in Gulf Breeze, Florida are open to families on a first-come, first-serve basis. The centers operate during normal business hours, and provide walk-ins with groceries, food boxes, and items to prepare a meal.

The food pantries are like grocery stores, allow clients the ability to choose the items they need from the groceries that are available on site.

First-time clients of the food pantry will need to apply, and this is done from a one-page application. An applicant will need to provide basic household member as well as demographic information.

We have located 1 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Gulf Breeze, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.

Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida

Food assistance is provided to individuals and families who are struggling to make ends meet. This assistance is provided through our local food pantries and local offices. The Caring Coach, our mobile food pantry, is an outreach program that takes food and support to individuals and families in rural areas. Our Food Pantries and Caring Coach are sustained by the support of local donors, local food banks, and the Florida USDA.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 436-8754 to book your appointment.

Address :

1815 N 6th Ave,
Pensacola, FL 32503.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia
  • Santa Rosa

Helping Hands Food Pantry

Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Gulf Breeze, Florida almost entirely by volunteers.

It provides a 7-day supply of groceries and personal care items free of charge to people in need, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Helping Hands is supported entirely by donations from individuals, service organizations, churches, and businesses in our community.

Find a local helping hands food pantry open near you.

We have located 0 Helping Hand Food Pantry locations in Gulf Breeze, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.

Mobile Food Pantry

The mobile food pantry program distributes food directly to families in communities around Gulf Breeze, Florida in need during large-scale one-day distributions.

A typical mobile pantry serves 200-250 families distributing up to 10,000 pounds of food. This past year over 6.6 million pounds were distributed through this program.

Mobile food pantries usually visit churches, community centers, schools, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. They usually go to areas where there aren't grocery stores or other food pantries.

Mobile Food Pantry Schedule 2024

Unlike traditional food pantries where you go to them, mobile pantry trucks come to you. Food banks sometimes have an online mobile food pantry schedule.

Mobile food pantry scheduled to visit a community once a week or once a month. There may be last-minute cancellations or changes so recheck the mobile food pantry schedule before you plan to go.

We have located 0 Mobile Food Pantry locations in Gulf Breeze, Model.Content.StateName which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.

St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry

The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry operates around Gulf Breeze, Florida much like a grocery store where people in need can choose their own food. It helps to enhance their personal dignity and reduces waste due to unwanted food items.

It also helps them to be proactive in addressing any underlying health issues. This is our model of choice for food pantries in the future.

We have located 1 St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry locations in Gulf Breeze, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of Pensacola - Tallahassee - Desoto

Our food pantry provides free food to feed families and individuals in need. We supply groceries for residents that do not have enough food because they lack the resources to purchase it. We serve everyone from low income families, single parents, senior citizens, unemployed individuals, disabled veterans, working poor, and anyone else that comes to the pantry for food assistance. We serve everyone regardless of their race, color, or religion. The amount of food given depends on household size.

Documents Required:
- Picture ID
- Social Security Card
-Proof of residency

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 434-6615 to book your appointment.

Address :

2200 W Desoto St,
Pensacola, FL 32505.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: Closed
  • Tues: 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
  • Wed: 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
  • Thurs: Closed
  • Fri: Closed
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Cities:

  • Pensacola
  • Tallahassee

Food Pantry Delivery Program

Food Pantry Delivery Program delivers food and other products once a month at twenty points in around Gulf Breeze, Florida area. This makes it just a bit easier for some of more remote rural agencies to receive their products. About 70% of members take advantage of the Food Pantry Delivery Program.

Food Pantry

We have located 9 Food Pantry locations in Gulf Breeze, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.

Ministry Village At Olive Inc

Food Pantry provides two types of food bags. Family Food Bag-designed to feed a family of four for four days. These bags consists of food items that will need to be cooked. Transient Food Bag-designed to feed one person for two days. These bags consist of easy-open food items that require no cooking. Walk-ins are welcome from 8:00am to 2:00pm, Monday-Friday.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (800) 435-7352 to book your appointment.

Address :

1836 E Olive Rd,
Pensacola, FL 32514.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia
  • Santa Rosa

Feeding the Gulf Coast

Produce Drop Program distributes thousands of pounds of fresh produce to communities in need. We distribute the produce to a single site in one day. This helps eliminate the need for food to be stored by the agency. It also helps us get more fresh product to those in need before it spoils.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 626-1332 to book your appointment.

Address :

5709 Industrial Blvd,
Milton, FL 32583.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Mobile
  • Escambia
  • Santa Rosa
  • Hancock
  • Harrison
  • Jackson

Epps Christian Center Inc

Soup Kitchen provides meals to the inner city poor and the homeless. Week days Monday through Friday from 5:30am to 7:00am and now serves over 1,000 meals per month and in addition to operating a Food Pantry that gives out over 3,000 lbs of food per month.

Services provided :

  • food pantry
  • meals

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 572-5761 to book your appointment.

Address :

2300 N Pace Blvd,
Pensacola, FL 32505.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia

Ministry Village At Olive Inc

Tender Hearts Caring Hands is a benevolence program serving the needs of disadvantaged individuals and families in Escambia and Santa Rosa County. Our program offers financial assistance to those experiencing hardships regardless of race, age, gender, creed, religion, national origin or disability. We assist with rent/mortgage and utilities based on office criteria.

Services provided :

  • help pay for housing
  • help pay for utilities
  • food pantry
  • blankets & fans
  • personal care items
  • financial assistance
  • ged/high-school equivalency

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (800) 435-7352 to book your appointment.

Address :

1830 E Olive Rd,
Pensacola, FL 32514.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia
  • Santa Rosa

Manna Food Pantry inc.

Pantry Services Program provides short-term food assistance to families and individuals in temporary crisis situations by providing a five-day supply of food in the form of groceries. Service is offered a maximum of four times a year to individuals in need.

To qualify, persons should bring;

- Adults (18+ years old): a picture ID and social security card
- Children (17 years or younger): a social security card, birth certificate or recent shot record.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 432-2053 to book your appointment.

Address :

116 E Gonzalez St,
Pensacola, FL 32501.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia
  • Santa Rosa

Appetite For Life Inc

Food pantry Program offers free meals to the homeless people living with Hiv/Aids. The food pantry is open each Tuesday and Thursday

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 470-9111 to book your appointment.

Address :

6847 W Fairfield Dr,
Pensacola, FL 32506.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia

EPPS Christian Center - Soup Kitchen/Food Pantry

Epps Christian Center under Pastor Tisdale’s direction began serving breakfast April 2006 to the Inner City Poor and the Homeless Week days Monday through Friday from 5:30am to 7:00am and now serves over 1,000 meals per month and in addition to operating a Food Pantry that gives out over 3,000 lbs of food per month. Epps Christian Center is a member of Bay Area Food Bank a member of America’s Second Harvest that support their food bank and supplies food to help feed the inner city poor and the Homeless.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 572-5761 to book your appointment.

Address :

2202 N Pace Blvd,
Pensacola, FL 32505.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon:
  • Tues:
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  • Thurs:
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  • Sat:
  • Sun:

Help Residents of Cities:

  • Pensacola

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia

Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen

Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen serves approximately 4,600 meals to the homeless each month. A hot breakfast is served at 7:00am, Monday through Friday, lunch is served on Saturday at 11:30am and dinner is served on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday evenings at 5pm. In addition to these meals, we also serve lunch and dinner to our emergency shelter families seven days a week. Much of the food that is served has been donated from the community. Food is picked up by Loaves and Fishes daily (and as needed) from local stores, bakeries, produce companies, food suppliers and others. Individuals and organizations donate prepared foods, canned goods, meats, fish and produce. Because of these faithful donations, Loaves and Fishes is able to supply ample high quality, nutritious meals to those in need. Throughout the week different volunteer crews prepare and serve meals to the public and to our shelter families. Volunteers are the heartbeat of the kitchen and because of their dedication to "the least of these" we are able to serve many men, women and children in need. Please pray that God will continue to bless us as we serve Him. Breakfast (7am, Monday-Friday); Lunch (11:30am, Saturday); Dinner (5:00pm, Monday & Wednesday)

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 438-7616 to book your appointment.

Address :

257 E Lee St,
Pensacola, FL 32503.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon:
  • Tues:
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  • Thurs:
  • Fri:
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  • Sun:

Help Residents of Cities:

  • Pensacola

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia

UWF Argo Pantry

The purpose of the Argo Pantry is to provide healthy food to currently enrolled UWF students who are in need of emergency assistance. Our mission is to establish and sustain a campus food pantry that will fulfill the basic requirements of students who are in need. The idea for the food pantry grew out of a conversation between Dr. Keya Wiggins, UWF Psychologist with Counseling and Psychological Services, and Dr. Lusharon Wiley, Director of Case Management Services in the Dean of Students office. Their shared concern and interactions with students had revealed a growing number of students who did not have adequate food. The idea was shared with the AVP/Dean of Students who supported the idea. He had established a food pantry at a prior institution. Students in need of emergency food assistance can visit the Argo Pantry located in the Dean of Students office in building 21. A brief interview and application is required. Food assistance will be provided to the student immediately following the interview. The entire process takes approximately fifteen minutes. Students will be able to access the Argo Pantry up to once a week.

Services provided :

  • food pantry

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (850) 474-2384 to book your appointment.

Address :

11000 University Pkwy Bldg 21,
Pensacola, FL 32514.
Get Directions

Hours Of Operations :

  • Mon:
  • Tues:
  • Wed:
  • Thurs:
  • Fri:
  • Sat:
  • Sun:

Help Residents of Cities:

  • Pensacola

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Escambia

Drive-thru Food Pantries

Since the start of the coronavirus, drive-thru food pantries have become the safest, most efficient way to provide food to our struggling neighbors.

Who can visit a drive-thru pantry?

Drive-thru pantries are open for anyone who needs help getting food. There are no eligibility criteria. Visitors do not need to provide any identification or income statements.

Only two piece of information is asked

  • You Zipcode, and
  • Number of people in their family.

You dont need to take appointment. Drive-thru pantries are first-come, first served so plan to arrive early.

How do drive-thru pantries actually work?

There are lot of volunteers help at Drive-thru food pantries. While not all drive-thru pantries operate in the same way, here�s how most work:

Staff and volunteers direct visitors to the parking area.

Visitors pull up to the pantry in their car and are usually guided into a clearly marked queue. As people move through the pantry, staff will continue to move the cars forward to get everyone through as quickly and safely as possible.

Checkin.

You are required to fill some information for Pantry's recording keeping.

Food is loaded into the cars.

Pre-packed bags of food, usually full of shelf-stable items like pasta, canned fruit and peanut butter, as well as fresh produce and meats are loaded by volunteers into the trunk of the car.

Pet Food Pantry

One in four pet owners who give up their pets to a shelter say it is because they cannot afford to care for them. Pet Food Pantries are designed to fill the void in the nation�s current assistance programs that exclude the purchase of food and supplies for family pets.

The Pet Food Pantry provides free pet food, for 3 months or less, to pet owners who cannot afford to feed their pets in Gulf Breeze, Florida

Who are eligible for Pet Food Pantry

Pet Food Pantry helps people who are:

  • All ages, races and marital status
  • Unemployed or underemployed
  • Retired, living on social security or other limited income
  • Physically or mentally disabled
  • Experiencing homelessness or housing instability

Tips for Visiting a Food Pantry

Show up early.

This is very important. This means you will be first in line and have a chance to get the items that are sought after and in limited quantities such as fresh produce, dairy and frozen food.

You don't usually need to show up hours ahead of time but coming at least an hour before is usually a good idea.

Remember all documentation.

Many food pantries require documentation to prove who you are, and in some cases, where you live.

This is to make sure people are not coming more than they are allowed or using fake names to do so. Call ahead of time to find out what documentation is needed.

It's just your photo ID and a piece of mail that verifies your address.

Use several food banks.

Using more than one food bank (when available) is smart because you may be able to get something at one that you may not get at another.

For instance, one may have a deal with a local gardener that gives them their extras. This may mean this food bank has more produce.

Eligible for other programs?

Ask your Department of Social Services office if you are eligible for other assistance programs to supplement your household’s food supply.

They can easily tell you if you can apply for WIC (Women and Infant Children), USDA Commodities or SNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

Ask about extras.

If you have special needs for infants or special diets, the pantries may be able to assist you.

Many times, they can help with diapers, baby formula, baby food, personal hygiene products, and even special diet items like gluten free or sugar free foods.

Go on different days of the week.

Depending on the food pantry, they may be open only one or two days a week or they may be open all seven days. When you have a choice, going midweek is often best as it is less crowded.

Be polite to workers.

Nearly everyone at a food bank is a volunteer. Be polite to the workers there as they often deal with highly emotional situations.

FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?

Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.

2. What kind of food is at a food pantry?

Specifically, food banks often need items like:

  • Peanut butter
  • Canned soup
  • Canned fruit
  • Canned vegetables
  • Pasta
  • Canned beans
  • Canned stew
  • Canned fish

3. Who can go to food pantry?

At the majority of food pantries, eligibility is based on self-attested need. You do not need to have a referral, and income is not a factor to receive food.

4. What is the difference between a food pantry and a soup kitchen?

A food pantry provides three-day food packages to families that have a place to live, but not enough food. These packages are designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals. Soup kitchens serve individuals in need of a hot meal, the only meal of the day for many of them.

5. How does a food pantry work?

Food Banks acquire large donations of edible but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Then they provide this food to family in a need.